Label: PRIDE RECORDS Band: SYSTEM CRASH Instrument: KEYBOARD SYNTH/BACKUP VOCALS Fame Lvl: 0 Current MP: 5
Short Description: ► Miniature rebel and preteen heart throb, Steven "Tiger" Universe is a whole lot of stage presence in a very small package. Also, he is kind of a jerk, though most of that is the frustrated lashing out of a confused, messed up kid. The audience loves him, though!
[It takes a long time for Steven to actually answer. It feels simultaneously like forever since that morning, and like it's been no time at all. Garnet is gone somewhere and no one from his band is left. Kido is gone. Pinkie is gone. Trucy is gone. He doesn't know if they're dead too or if they just got taken somewhere, but in the end he's alone anyway.
He keeps the phone beneath the sheets with him, feeling too sick to head up. He doesn't really think anything is going to come of it. He already tried texting Greg's secret line, probably dozens of times, but there wasn't an answer. Nothing to disprove what Garnet said. He feels like he's dead, too.
He can't even risk having the sound on, but he's been trying to watch it anyway. Like the hope that maybe it will eventually light up is the only thing still stringing him along. He can't help but feel like he should be stronger than this, but it's hard to say who he's being strong for at this point.
Finally, it happens. He sees the call in a state of total numbness and shock. He answers it before he can think. He doesn't speak, too afraid that the person on the other side is faking, that they are trying to draw him out. Maybe one of the bad guys took his phone. He doesn't know.
[ He'd feared the worst when the calls failed. The phone discovered by Steven's keepers and confiscated or destroyed. Worse yet, Steven himself throwing it away, either after Greg's cruel dismissal or after this morning's news.
Still he kept trying, punching the number into the payphone again and again. He had to get through. He had to let Steven know.
When finally the line clicked to life, Greg could have felt his heart try to leap out of his mouth, his voice hoarse and strained.]
[He gasps raggedly, the words barely making it out in a whine.]
Dad...
[He covers his mouth with his hand, trying to keep the wail of utter relief and desperation from making it out. He has to be quiet. He can't let them know, no matter how important this is.]
[ He hears the relief in his son's voice, the restrained tears. He can only imagine the suffering Steven's been through these last few hours. Greg swallows, throat tight, and does his best to keep his voice even. He needs Steven to hear this message, and he doesn't know how long he can keep composed enough to say it. ]
Steven. I'm... I'm okay. I'm not hurt, we're all safe... [ He gulps for air. ] I'm so sorry, I didn't want you to think...
[ The only one...? Greg hasn't had the time to see everyone who was rescued yet, but... all of System Crash, with Steven left behind... it's partly Greg's own magic responsible for all this, resulting in his son abandoned.]
They're safe. Friends came and... I can't tell you where we are yet, but we're all safe. I'll come and get you too, Steven, I promise. Please stay safe until then, all right?
[He's wiping his eyes now, trying to control himself now that he knows that things are way better than they seemed at first. Greg is okay. Pinkie and Trucy are probably okay. They're all okay, somewhere else. Somewhere far away.]
The things I said these last few weeks... about us getting hurt being together. They were all lies. Don't believe a word of it. You know how strong we are together. It's going to be all right, so long as you remember that.
[There's so much that's been stamped into him that tells him Greg is wrong. That tells him he has no hope of escaping anymore and that he shouldn't even try. Yet, when he says it like that, that they are strong together, he can't help but pause breathlessly.]
I... I don't really get what it is he did. [ Greg's pretty sure he doesn't need to clarify who "he" refers to. ] But, instead of memories, it was like... he made me forget how I felt in all my memories.
Could you let her know? I... don't have her number or anything. [ Maybe the whole fake death thing is a good idea on paper, but... she doesn't deserve that sort of despair, any more than Steven does. ]
[Steven doesn't vocalize his disappointment. Instead he just falls silent for a little while, before eventually speaking. When he does, it sounds like he's worried that it will be the last time.]
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tigermillionaire) wrote2015-09-30 11:22 pm
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He keeps the phone beneath the sheets with him, feeling too sick to head up. He doesn't really think anything is going to come of it. He already tried texting Greg's secret line, probably dozens of times, but there wasn't an answer. Nothing to disprove what Garnet said. He feels like he's dead, too.
He can't even risk having the sound on, but he's been trying to watch it anyway. Like the hope that maybe it will eventually light up is the only thing still stringing him along. He can't help but feel like he should be stronger than this, but it's hard to say who he's being strong for at this point.
Finally, it happens. He sees the call in a state of total numbness and shock. He answers it before he can think. He doesn't speak, too afraid that the person on the other side is faking, that they are trying to draw him out. Maybe one of the bad guys took his phone. He doesn't know.
But his breath hitches all the same.]
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Still he kept trying, punching the number into the payphone again and again. He had to get through. He had to let Steven know.
When finally the line clicked to life, Greg could have felt his heart try to leap out of his mouth, his voice hoarse and strained.]
Steven?!
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Dad...
[He covers his mouth with his hand, trying to keep the wail of utter relief and desperation from making it out. He has to be quiet. He can't let them know, no matter how important this is.]
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Steven. I'm... I'm okay. I'm not hurt, we're all safe... [ He gulps for air. ] I'm so sorry, I didn't want you to think...
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[He manages to croak out the words, trying not to babble with how much his tongue is betraying him.]
I-It happened... there was something here too and... I'm the only one still here I don't know... Garnet said you were gone forever.
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They're safe. Friends came and... I can't tell you where we are yet, but we're all safe. I'll come and get you too, Steven, I promise. Please stay safe until then, all right?
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[He's wiping his eyes now, trying to control himself now that he knows that things are way better than they seemed at first. Greg is okay. Pinkie and Trucy are probably okay. They're all okay, somewhere else. Somewhere far away.]
It won't work.
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[A steely tone has edged into his voice.]
We're going to be a family again. I'm going to make sure you're safe.
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[He's pleading desperately.]
I can't let you again. Please dad.
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The things I said these last few weeks... about us getting hurt being together. They were all lies. Don't believe a word of it. You know how strong we are together. It's going to be all right, so long as you remember that.
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What happened to you? Why were you like that?
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I... I forgot how much I loved everyone.
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[He says softly, like that makes all the sense in the world. The next part is almost a whisper.]
I knew it wouldn't be forever.
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Thanks for believing in me, kiddo.
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[His voice is wet with left over tears.]
Garnet was so upset...
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[ He's silent for a moment. ]
Could you let her know? I... don't have her number or anything. [ Maybe the whole fake death thing is a good idea on paper, but... she doesn't deserve that sort of despair, any more than Steven does. ]
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I have to go now. Stay safe until we can see each other again, okay?
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Okay. I love you.
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I love you, Steven.
[ With greatest reluctance, he hangs up. ]